2016 VP Debate: A Retrospective

On October 4, 2016, Longwood University stepped into the national spotlight. As the lights inside Willett Hall dimmed at 9 p.m., moderator Elaine Quijano stepped onto the stage and said, “Good evening. From Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, welcome to the first, and only, Vice Presidential Debate of 2016.”

During Debate Week, it was hard to find a face that wasn’t smiling. People cheered as Elwood walked onto the MSNBC set for his 15 minutes of fame. Students rocked out to pop sensation MKTO. Visitors enjoyed a taste of Virginia on Stubbs Mall. And a lucky 150 students—more than half the crowd—received tickets to see the debate live in the debate hall. Relive the experience through photos, videos and our live blog of the day.

To share the Longwood name and story with a wider audience

One of the 100 oldest colleges and universities in the country and the third-oldest public university in Virginia, Longwood, bolstered by its distinct mission of citizen leadership, capitalized on the attention the national Vice Presidential Debate attracts. By crafting a narrative that built on the distinct mission and history of the university, Longwood captured over $83 million worth of earned media, both nationally and internationally.

To leave a legacy

Hosting the 2016 Vice Presidential Debate wasn’t just an opportunity for unprecedented campus engagement—it was a chance for Longwood to make significant long-term campus improvements, drastically improve its IT infrastructure, create a lasting sense of pride and forge a common future with Farmville.